More firms enter USB 3.0 flash drive controller market
Innostor Technology has been the major supplier of USB 3.0 flash drive controllers, with monthly shipments standing at about one million units, according to the sources. In 2012, at least four other firms are looking to step into the market in anticipation of the new interface's penetration into the USB flash drive market, the sources indicated.
The penetration rate for USB drives with USB 3.0 is estimated at as low as 20-30%, the sources said. The new and faster interface still has a long way to go before it can replace the currently-mainstream 2.0 version in the flash drive market, the sources pointed out.
Phison Electronics is set to mass produce its USB 3.0 flash drive controllers in the first quarter of 2012, while Silicon Motion Technology is gearing up for volume production for the chips around the same time, the sources observed. Genesys Logic and ASMedia Technology will launch their USB 3.0 flash drive produts later in the first quarter and the second quarter, respectively, according to the sources.
With more suppliers involved, prices for USB 3.0 flash drive controller chips will be driven down in 2012, the sources anticipate. Phison, for instance, is likely to quote its products at as low as US$0.60, the sources said.
Phison's USB 3.0 flash drive controllers will be initially built using 90nm process technology, but will shift to a newer 55nm process for cost reasons in the second quarter, according to the sources.
